Behind every hustle in Beaufort County is a purpose: Meet Zchealvin Alversado
This is the first of a multi-series of feature stories that will highlight residents in Beaufort County who balance multiple jobs to provide an insight into the economic climate and workforce of the Lowcountry region.
For Zchealvin Alversado, working long hours isn’t about ambition, it’s about serving a purpose.
Originally from the Philippines, Alversado moved to the U.S. when she was 21 years old for an internship at Montage Palmetto Bluff. It was a leap into the unknown: a new country, culture, career and a decision she made alone.
She left behind everything familiar in the Philippines, her family, home and a lifelong dream of studying architecture, to take a hospitality internship that would eventually lead to a full-time position in food and beverage management.
“I didn’t know anyone here. All of my family was back home or scattered in states like California and Virginia,” Alversado said. “But I came here to build something, for them and for myself.”
Now, more than a decade later, Alversado balances her role as Food and Beverage Manager at Palmetto Bluff with an impressive suite of side hustles: babysitting, pet sitting, house cleaning, private catering and chalkboard art.
Why? For her family.
“Every hour I work is a step toward giving my family a better life,” she said. “That’s a sacrifice I make with pride and love.”
The why behind the work
For Alversado, these side hustles are never about making extra cash. They’re about making things work and filling in the gaps.
“I’m the eldest child and the primary breadwinner between my spouse and I,” she said. “I was always taught to be an example. The extra money I make helps take care of my siblings and grandparents, from groceries, bills and even tuition.”
While challenging, one moment that motivated her to keep pushing through was when her sister was about to graduate from college. She had one semester left and her family couldn’t afford to pay.
“I knew I had to find a way,” she said. “That’s when I started taking on more; babysitting, cooking and whatever I could to help her graduate.”
Another aspect of her motivation comes from her younger brother, who passed away in a motorcycle accident four years ago.
“I think he’s pushing me to keep going,” she said. “To not stop from where I am now.”
Why these hustles?
Babysitting, cooking for large events and cleaning homes were not skills Alversado had much experience in when starting out. But she learned on the go, guided by a simple desire to help those she loved.
“I think I just grew into it,” she said. “I wasn’t trained to care for kids or clean houses professionally. I just knew how to care, and that was enough to start.”
Over time, those efforts became more than just a means of support. They became expressions of who she is.
“These side hustles weren’t just about survival. They became part of me,” she said. “I’m not just working nonstop, I’m building something.”
The grit & sacrifice
Alversado works 55 to 60 hours a week at Palmetto Bluff and spends much of her two days off babysitting, cooking or working on chalk art.
“Honestly, balance hasn’t always been easy,” she said. “ There are days I’m running purely on hope and purpose. I get overwhelmed and feel stretched thin, but I remind myself why I’m doing it — for the people I love.”
While working so hard, Alversado has sacrificed missing birthdays, Christmases, family reunions and the simple moments at home, including her brother’s funeral, which fell during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Even during moments of burnout, she’s found solace in the work.
The big picture
Before stepping into hospitality and moving across the globe, Alversado had envisioned herself as an architect.
“I’ve always loved design, but the cost of school was just too high for my family,” she said. “My dad pushed me to pursue hospitality and told me that it could take me anywhere, which ended up being true.”
Still, art remains central to everything she does. She designs her own catering menus, draws chalkboards for local restaurants and finds ways to infuse creativity into even the smallest details.
“I still do 5-foot chalk menus by hand,” she said. “They take hours, but they make me feel most like myself.”
Her cooking, too, is a form of expression.
“I’d make meals for families that weren’t even my own,” she said. “What made it worth it was when they would tell me, ‘This tastes like home.’ That gave me the confidence to turn it into something real.”
These forms of creativity and passion are the main drivers that keep Alversado going.
“Art is still part of my hustle,” she said. “It may not be the career I originally dreamed of, but it lives in everything I do.”
Looking ahead
While her dream of becoming an architect shifted, she hasn’t let go of it completely.
In the near future, Alversado hopes to take a step back from her handful of side hustles and focus on her new dream of opening a small café or food truck and building a family of her own.
“I want my cafe to be small, warm, rooted in who I am and my culture,” she said. “A place where I can serve food that tells stories.”
She envisions a place that blends culture and comfort, where people gather not just to eat, but to feel at home.
Alversado admits she’s already saving and investing in equipment for the future.
“Everything I earn, I split. It’s a lot to divide between bills, savings, family and business, but it’s worth it.”
Even though her life didn’t pan out exactly as her younger self had hoped, Alversado is still living her dream.
“I used to think success had to look a certain way,” she said. “But I’ve learned that the detours, the delays and even the disappointments — they still shape something beautiful.”
What others should know
For Alversado, every job, every hustle and every late night is all part of a bigger picture.
“While some people may see multiple jobs on your resume as unstable or unsure, they miss the story behind it,” she said. “Don’t let anyone slow you down. Most of us work this hard because we have to, not because we’re indecisive.”
Alversado is quick to admit that she wished she’d known what she’d gotten herself into by picking up these side hustles. But by sticking true to her passions and reminding herself why she does it, she’s found this piece of advice helps her make it through the long days:
“You don’t have to be perfect to be worthy,” she said. “It’s okay not to have everything figured out. One day, all the hustles and all the heart will become something you’re proud of.”
Do you or someone you know have a Lowcountry side hustle? Please reach out via email to amiller@islandpacket.com for more information about this series.
